7th ESPI Autumn Conference
‘Space in a Changing World’
Vienna 11-12 September 2013
Space, Technology and Warfare:
Applying the Laws of Armed Conflict to
a Changing World
Steven Freeland
Professor of International Law, University of Western Sydney
Marie Curie Visiting Professor, iCourts Centre of Excellence for International
Courts, Denmark
Visiting Professor, University of Vienna
Technological Challenges for the
Humanitarian Legal Framework
• International Law and technology
• IHL – embedded into International Law – means and methods of warfare
• IHL – applies to novel types of weaponry and new technological
developments
but……
• is (usually) ‘one war late’
• How to react in law to technological challenges on the battlefield?
• What constitutes ‘the battlefield’?
• Are we (should we be) applying 20th Century laws to 21st Century
technology?
• Are the IHL laws applicable? relevant? appropriate? sufficient? clear?
• What ‘shapes’ what?
Technological ‘Challenges’ to
IHL include….
• cyber technology
• remote-controlled weapons systems
technology
• robotics technology
• space technology
• others?
Opportunities and Risks
• Potential to minimize casualties
• Greater selectivity => an obligation to use?
• non-lethal / less-lethal means of warfare
but……
• Increasing trend to ‘long distance warfare’
=> a disconnect
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
It’s ‘too easy’
More attacks?
A lower threshold?
Increased destructive capabilities
More likely to ‘render death inevitable’
Moral and ethical challenges – moral disengagement
Legal uncertainties
Outer Space Treaty – Principles
Relevant to Military Uses
•
Freedom to explore and use / free access for all
•
‘province of mankind’ / ‘common heritage of mankind’
•
No appropriation / claims of sovereignty
•
International law applies (including UN Charter)
•
Interests of maintaining international peace and security
•
No nuclear weapons / weapons of mass destruction
•
‘Peaceful Purposes’
•
State responsibility / liability for ‘national activities in
outer space’
•
International cooperation / keeping UN informed
Military Uses of Outer Space – a reality
• Peaceful Purposes
–
‘Non-military’ v ‘non-aggressive’
• a redundant argument?
• Operation Desert Storm – the first ‘Space
War’
• Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya etc
• Military satellites / space assets – an
‘integrated battle platform’
• Commercial satellites
–
‘dual use’ satellites
• Communications
• GPS technology
• Remote sensing
• Weapons systems
• Earth => Space - missile defence shield /
ballistic missiles / ASATS
• Space => Space
• Space => Earth
• ‘Fourth Territory’?
Space Security – International /
National Policy
• Activities of the Major Space Faring States
– A ‘Space Pearl Harbour’
• A Space Arms Race? – UNGA Resolutions
– the weaponisation of space?
• Draft 2008 Treaty to Prevent Weapons
• TCBMs – Draft International Code of Conduct
A Hypothetical? – An Application
of IHL Principles
• International law applies in outer space
• No ‘territorial’ limitation to jus in bello
•
– IHL Principles apply
• in combat zone
• where acts cause (direct) effects?
Outer Space used for
– ‘passive’ military activities
– as an ‘active’ theatre of warfare?
Application of IHL Principles
• Principles of
– Distinction
– Military Objective
– Proportionality
• appropriate for actions in outer space?
• Can a satellite be a legitimate target of war?
– military satellites
– ‘dual-use’ satellites
• Effects?
– communities / States / regions etc reliant on satellite technology
Concluding Comments
• Space technology already used to conduct armed conflict
• Increasing likelihood that space may become a ‘theatre of war’
• Legal ‘status’ of satellites – legitimate military target?
• How to apply / adapt the jus in bello?
• Need for specific standards
– Definitions – ‘space’ / ‘peaceful purposes’ / ‘military uses’
• Need to adhere to the collective ‘humanity’ principles of space law
and IHL